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Texas Military Department News

"Texans Serving Texas"

 FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Army National Guard Addressing Water Issue at El Campo Armory

AUSTIN, Texas (May 17, 2017) On May 9, 2017, the Texas Military Department was notified, by the National Guard Bureau, of unsafe drinking and consumable water at its El Campo Readiness Center in El Campo, Texas.

The Texas Military Department has taken immediate action to isolate the water source and provide the Soldiers bottled water for consumption. The water from the well is safe for non-potable uses and will be provided to operate toilets, sinks and showers. The Texas Military Department is working closely with the National Guard Bureau, as well as local officials for a permanent solution that ensures safe drinking water. The El Campo Readiness Center will maintain normal operations.

The Army and the Army National Guard have been conducting nationwide testing on drinking water from wells located on its properties to ensure levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanic Acid (PFOA) are below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lifetime Health Advisory (LFH) level in drinking water of 70 parts per trillion (ppt).  This LFA applies to either one individually or combined if both constituents are detected.

The sample analytical results received shows levels of PFOS at 56.3 ppt and PFOA at 23.3 ppt for a combined total of 79.4 ppt, which exceeds the EPA LHA of 70 ppt.  For context, one ppt is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

PFOS and PFOA are man made chemicals found in many consumer and industrial products.  Studies show that, regardless of age, most people in the United States have some levels of these chemicals in their blood.  Exposure to these chemicals other than from drinking water include consuming food cooked with cookware with non-stick coatings or inhalation of household dust generated from contact with coatings on clothing or carpeting.  The primary source of these chemicals in Army operations is from Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrates used in fire suppression systems in aircraft hangars and other fire-fighting apparatus.

Media outlets with inquiries should contact the Texas Military Department state Public Affairs Office at 512-782-5620 or email at ng.tx.txarng.mbx.pao@mail.mil.  

Any current or former Texas Military Department service member or employee with questions or concerns, related to the El Campo Armory water can obtain additional information on the attached fact sheet or contact the state Public Affairs Office

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.